EAU History

During the congress of the Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the final constituent assembly took place. The EAU was born and welcomed 259 proposed members. As a neutral country, Switzerland was chosen as the permanent home of the EAU headquarters and Prof. Willy Gregoir was elected the first Secretary General.

The first EAU Congress, chaired by Prof. Ravasini, was held in September 1974 in Padua, Italy. At this congress Prof. G. Mayor officially announced the constitution of European Urology as the official scientific journal of the EAU. The journal was to be published from January 1975 on. Photo: Willy Gregoir, one of the founding fathers and the 1st secretary General of the EAU

1st edition of the Association’s journal: European Urology.

The decision was taken to open the EAU to all European urologists who wished to become members.

During the 6th EAU Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, it was agreed to use English as the sole official language at future congresses. Prof. A. Steg (FR) was elected Secretary General and succeeded Prof. Gregoir.

• Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. John Blandy
• Chair of the Film Committee: Prof. Walter De Sy

The 1st EAU Willy Gregoir Award was handed out to H. Hopkins. The medal’s design was based on a profile sketch made by Prof. John Blandy

The 9th EAU Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, chaired by Prof. Frans Debruyne was preceded by an avalanche of information and clever publicity. More than 1500 papers were received of high scientific quality. The congress attracted an unusually large number of urologists from Central and Eastern Europe and also from the US, Japan, Australia, South-Africa and various Asian countries. At the Amsterdam congress the EAU truly became an “open” association.

• Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. Tage Hald
• Foundation of the EAU Historical Committee: Dr. Johan Mattelaer
• Launch of European Urology Today, the EAU’s official newsletter

At the 10th EAU Congress in Genoa, Italy, chaired by Prof. Giuliani, Prof. Debruyne (NL) succeeded Prof. Steg as Secretary General.

The first EBU exam was conducted.

At the General Assembly during the 12th congress in Paris, France, the new structure of the EAU with various new committees for all the new activities were approved. From that moment on, the EAU grew at a tremendous rate in terms of membership, congress participants as well as activities.

• The 1^st Crystal Matula Award was granted to Prof. F. Hamdy, Sheffield (GB)
• The first time ESU Courses were organised by the European School of Urology
• Chair of the Scientific Committee: Prof. Laurent Boccon-Gibod

From the 13th EAU Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the EAU becomes an annual event. The EAU Central Office takes on the task as the main and sole organiser of the Annual EAU Congress.

• The EAU Office moved to a new building in Arnhem, The Netherlands

One of our current core activities, the EAU Guidelines, were launched in this year. The aim of the EAU guidelines is to assist practising clinicians in making informed decisions in a given circumstance; taking the highest quality scientific data, their patient’s personal circumstances, values and preferences into account. Since its introduction in 2000 the EAU Guidelines are used all across the world. They are comprehensively updated on an annual basis and freely accessible for all members.

Expanding the European Union

Congress President Vela Navarrete mentioned during the EAU Congress News that the 2003 congress in Madrid would be remembered as a milestone in the history of European urology. “The expansion of the European Union to 25 countries means we are the largest urological community in the world. The EAU had made its way in a very short time to being the benchmark of European urology”, said Vela Navarette.

After 12 years, Prof. Frans Debruyne resigns and Prof. Pierre Teillac is the new Secretary General of the EAU. Prof. Freddie Hamdy becomes Chair of the Scientific Committee.

The EAU introduced a new corporate house style and logo

Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson (SE) was elected as the new Secretary General of the EAU and succeeds Pierre Teillac. Introduction of the EAU ID Card for members.

EAU Frans Debruyne Lifetime Achievement Award: R. Ackermann, Düsseldorf (DE)

The EAU has grown into a well-established scientific organisation with numerous scientific activities. The Annual EAU Congress is attended by more than 12,000 delegates and membership has grown from the initial 259 in 1973 to more than 14,000 in 2010!

It’s the 25^th Anniversary Congress. The EAU’s International Day featured joint meetings with nine regional urological associations, by far the biggest participation yet from international societies based in Asia, the Americas and the African-Middle East regions.

The new Innovators in Urology Award was handed out to Prof. C.G. Chaussy, Strasslach (DE)

Almost 15,000 visitors followed the congress online. Delegates spent a lot of time online through their mobile devices and actively used the applications developed for the congress. These insights help the EAU to reduce costs, be more environmentally friendly and more oriented towards digital technology.

Congress president Francesco Montorsi, from Milan, Italy, who also stepped down as Editor in Chief of European Urology at the end of 2013. He is succeeded by James Catto. The New EAU Prostate Cancer Research Award was handed out to L. Ahmad from Glasgow.

• Chris Chapple (GB) succeeds Per-Anders Abrahamsson as Secretary-General
• Walter Artibani steps down as member of the EAU Executive board

Prof. Marberger received a standing ovation when he was awarded Honorary Member of he EAU Congress.